Forbidden Phase
by Uenki

Me no own RK.

"Here, this is for you!" she exclaimed happily, pushing a stalk of Jasmine into his hands. Megumi had gone out to fetch the medicine in the medical hall, for the kids who had injured their legs as they played. She was still smiling; a peaceful smile was plastered out on her lush lips, just like the way she slept on the big bed. The way she stared at him was making his uneasy, yet being the ice man like he was, stayed in position- sitting up and listened to her ranting. He enjoyed that… After spending sixteen years of loving her as 'Kaoru', he had never known her personality, and he was enjoying every bit of her. The way she talked, the way she gestured and the way she smiled.

"Ne, so what's your name?" she asked, curiosity aroused, while peering at him amber colored eyes, thinking that it was the most beautiful thing she have seen. Their gaze met, and her face turned red. She chuckled and took his hand, and caressed the bandaged wound gently. Crimson was staining the bandage, and she looked worried. Slowly, she took off the bandage, and placed his arm gently on the futon, while she went to another room and filled a basin full of water while holding a fresh roll of bandages,

"I know I don't look like a doctor," she laughed softly at her own joke, "but I do know how to treat your wound… I often see Megumi doing this." She then put his hand on her lap, causing him to turn his head away and blushing softly, and she re-bandaged his wound. Never in his life he had thought, the woman he loved dearly would be doing such… actions and it touched him. After she had bandaged his wound, she stood up and gave a little bow.

"Alright, I am done… Megumi will be here soon enough, so, please do take a little rest, okay?" she requested, his amber eyes softened, and nodded. As she carried the basin, heading for another room, he whispered softly.

"Kenshin… Himura Kenshin." She turned back, gave a little smile, and told him her name as she went off.

'Kaoru… my name is Kaoru.'

He paused, and laughed in the room, alone. Just as he thought, her name was really Kaoru. He played with the flower in his hand, and lied down. Closing his eyes, he slept while the flower was still grasped in his hands.

As the clock strikes twelve,
and the bell sounds,
the hourglass is going to turn…

Turning back time…

In the southern part of the village, a man sat in the dark room with the four walls facing him. He was huddled in a long, wide black cloth, for he was afraid of the sunlight. It is going to be a pain, for he who had never faced the sun for decades.

Binding sunlight, I really hate it. Hated it to the core from my heart.

The large wooden door, clean and shiny, opened, and the ray of sunlight flowed, occupying every corners of the room. The man put down his spectacles and placed it on the large desk. The door opened with a loud slam, and in came his life, Kaoru. She was God's greatest creation. He gestured for her to come closer and she obediently went over to him. He caressed her face gently, and placed her head on his lap, stroking her head gently, lovingly.

"Kaoru, dearest Kaoru… you won't leave me alone, right? You won't leave me alone like your sisters did, right?" he asked in a sing song voice. Kaoru's eyes darkened, as if staring into a faraway place. Tears fell from her eyes, rolling down smoothly.

"I won't, Master, I won't." She replied, saddening. She gave him her word. The man smiled softly, bended down and kissed her head.

"I was not wrong…" he murmured, "for giving you my most important thing… I want you to stay alive- no, you need to stay alive… Take his… Take it, for you need to stay alive…" he whispered, persuasively. The woman nodded, like a submissive child.

"Yes master… I shall stay alive… I will take it…" As if in a hallucination, she seemed to forever in a never ending dream. She will take his most important thing… his heart.

The sand is falling,
The birds are singing…

Turn back time;
Throw the switch,
Waking up in the never-ending dream…

Author's note: It's short, I know. But I kinda like this chapter. Now that 'time' is linked to everything, the plot has thickened. Wow! I love curry Delicious! Oro, that's off topic. More Kenshin and Kaoru scenes ahead.

A big big thankee for everyone who had reviewed, and a BIG hug for Joyce-sama. 'Uenki smiles'

Love and Chocolates,
Uenki.